Russia’s Aleksandr Maltsev, China’s Xu Huiyan claim artistic swimming golds at World Aquatics Championships

SINGAPORE – The pulsating rhythm of Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell set the tone for a memorable return to the world stage for Russian artistic swimmer Aleksandr Maltsev on July 19.

Showing little signs of ring rust, the 30-year-old marked his comeback after three years in the international wilderness with a gold in the men’s solo technical at the World Aquatics Championships.

Competing in his first championships since 2019, Maltsev scored 251.7133 points to clinch his first individual title at the meet under a neutral flag. He was unable to compete at the previous three editions due to World Aquatics’ suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes following his country’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Spain’s Dennis Gonzalez Boneu (241.1667) and Mexico’s Diego Villalobos Carrillo (238.1600) finished second and third respectively.

Maltsev’s gold at the WCH Arena takes his world championship medal tally to five, adding to his previous successes in the mixed duet free and mixed duet technical.

He said: “It was sad that I couldn’t compete at the (previous) world championships but now... I’m very happy that I can win the gold medal in solo.”

His triumph will also go some way to easing his disappointment of missing out on Paris 2024, the first edition where men were allowed to compete in artistic swimming. Countries were permitted to enter two men in the eight-athlete team event, although none featured male competitors.

Russia did not take part in artistic swimming then and Maltsev was “very, very sad” to have lost the chance to compete at the quadrennial event.

While World Aquatics has gradually eased regulations for Russian and Belarusian athletes, the Singapore edition marks the first time that Russia are entering a contingent under a neutral flag.

The door was opened to athletes from both countries to compete as neutrals for the 2024 edition in Doha, and while five athletes from Belarus did so, Russia opted not to.

Russia returned to the global stage at the short-course World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest last December.

According to the World Aquatics website, there are 16 athletes from Belarus and 60 from Russia competing this time.

But athletes from those countries have to meet strict eligibility criteria to participate, including a requirement that they do not express support for any ongoing conflicts.

For Maltsev, competing on the world stage again “feels very new”, but he is glad to be back and is encouraged to see “a lot of excellent male athletes competing in our sport now”.

On being one of the pioneering figures, he said: “It’s hard because it’s a lot of responsibility.

“You understand that you need to walk out and always show the top level in all aspects, but the support from the young athletes who come up to you and treat you like an icon, that also gives me strength.”

Meanwhile, in the women’s solo technical event, China’s Xu Huiyan triumphed with an impressive 272.9917 points to claim her first solo title at the world championships.

Belarus’ Vasilina Khandoshka took silver (260.5416), while Spain’s Iris Tio Casas rounded up the podium with 260.2917.

Xu, 19, said: “I feel good about how today went. It feels pretty emotional, because something I hoped for but hadn’t dared to think about before is now a reality before me.”

With her gold, the teenager improved on her bronze from the 2024 edition.

Reflecting on her progress, Xu, who still has four events to go, said: “The past year has been a gruelling one in training for me.

“It’s been a lot of growth. I needed to work on my artistic impression.

“That was something I was lacking in last year.”

Earlier, she also participated in the team free preliminary round, with defending champions China booking their place in the 12-country final, earning the top score of 338.2167.

Spain were second (329.4288), while Japan qualified third with 327.9186.